Artisan Spotlight: Kyle Conlon, Software Developer

Throughout the year, we like to showcase stand-out Artisans – team members who take the initiative to better the lives of our customers, the software, and our employees. This time around, we are excited to congratulate Kyle Conlon, Software Developer, for earning this honor and his very own bobblehead!

Kyle joined Deacom as a member of our 25-person development team last year and didn’t waste any time before making his presence known. He created a tool that makes the development process faster for all the other developers.

“As the system has grown, the automated tests get larger and larger, which can bog down our developers,” said Deacom’s CEO, Jay Deakins. “Kyle has created a method of changing how automated tests are run which leverages valuable the time of our developers.”

Here is what you need to know about this Artisan:

Describe your role at Deacom?

I work as a member of the Development Application team here at Deacom, focused on adding new functionality into the system. I am also involved with the Automated Testing team, writing and improving automated tests of the system functionality.

When and how did you come to work at Deacom?

I joined the Deacom team in June of 2017. I was looking for an opportunity that would allow me to move from doing contract work to working somewhere that developed and grew their own product. I was really drawn to Deacom by the all-in-one approach. I know all the headaches that can come from trying to bolt too many systems onto one another, making it impossible to maintain quality. The friendly and collaborative atmosphere I saw during the interview process really solidified that I wanted to be a part of the Deacom team.

What do you enjoy most about working at Deacom?

I really enjoy the dynamism of the work at Deacom. Each day presents a new project and challenge to work on. It keeps me on my toes and always pushes me to improve.

What has been your favorite project at Deacom thus far?

The projects I’ve really enjoyed so far have involved process improvements for all developers. I like building tools that can help everyone be more efficient and save them some tedium in their day. One of the major projects I was involved in was the introduction of TeamCity into our continuous integration process. After sifting through all the options available to us, and consulting with several team members, we arrived on TeamCity. I was then given the latitude to rewrite some of our build processes to allow us to take advantage of this tool.

What excites you most about the technology industry?

Anything really is possible with the technology. Advancements in machine learning are really opening the door to solving a wide range of various problems which had seemed out of reach before.

What do you like to do when you’re not at the office?

I enjoy traveling very much. There is a lot to experience out there and while I am able to I like to get out and see a new perspective on the world. Some of my favorite places are out of the country like Mexico or Ireland as life there can be very different from life at home. Someday I hope to make a grand tour of Europe, hitting as many major capitals and cities as possible.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I am a published poet. In fourth grade my teacher had all of us enter poems into a contest for a local publication and mine was selected in the final publication.

What is your bobblehead holding and can you explain what it means to you?

I’m holding a Rubix cube in my hand. Physical puzzles and puzzles, in general, have always fascinated me. Currently, I’m working on solving a 4×4 cube.

Curious who else from the Deacom team has taken the Artisan Spotlight? Click here to see the most recent.